LED lighting has become one of the most quickly evolving industries and over the next few years should see considerable advances. So, what is LED Lighting anyway?

LED lighting refers to lighting that utilizes solid-state LED (light emitting diodes) technology instead of the standard incandescent bulb. What makes LEDs different from incandescent bulbs is the way they produce light. LEDs use semiconductors that convert electricity to light. Incandescent light, on the other hand, is created using a combination of filaments, gases, and glass to create thermal energy that is released as light.

Developments in LEDs have increased to the point where they are being used for a variety of applications in both the private and public sectors. Lighting sources ranging from traffic lights, street lights, exit signs, and other outdoor illumination are being retrofitted with LEDs. In the future these LEDs will get smaller, faster, cheaper and more functional.

LEDs offer a number of overwhelmingly superior benefits over incandescent lighting. A few examples of this superiority include:

Size - LEDs are typically very small. They can be used as a stand-alone light or as part of an array or grouping of lights.

Efficiency Compared to traditional lighting with incandescent bulbs (only 20% of their energy produces light, the remaining is outputted as thermal energy or heat), LEDs can reach almost 80%-90% efficiency. And since LEDs give off light in one direction they don't waste light by sending it to areas that aren't needed.

Low Voltage LED illumination doesn't require much in terms of voltage. A low voltage power supply should be good enough to illuminate most LEDs. This makes it easy to use for outdoor applications,

Longer Life - The life of an LED is estimate to be from 25,000 to 50,000 hours. The life of an LED is defined as the average number of hours it can run until its light falls to 70 percent of initial brightness, in lumens. LEDs will typically fade gradually instead of a complete loss of light.

Durable LEDs have no filaments, so they can withstand heavy vibrations. They are also resistant to shock and external impacts which make them great for outdoor landscape lighting systems.

LED lighting is projected to revolutionize the efficiency, appearance, and quality of lighting throughout the world. The U.S. Department of Energy has estimated that the rapid adoption of LED lighting in the U.S. could deliver savings of about $265 billion and reduce lighting electricity demand by 33% in 2027.